Got my first Octopus!

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Justin Lee, Mar 30, 2020.

  1. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    About a month ago I was successful at winning my single, main target (expect it's own post in the coming week, I hope) in the late February Artemide Aste auction. There was another nice coin that I thought I might bid on and see if I could pick up to offset some of the shipping. As I mentioned in another post, with all the stuff happening in Italy lately, I was not expecting to get it for a while and was simply sitting and being patient. Well, it was delivered about a week ago (nice to hear you got your's delivered recently too, @Ryro!).

    My first Octopus! In fact, it has another first to it's name, as well... it's the first ever bronze issue from Syracuse... during the Second Democracy, 466-405 BC, more specifically, struck around 425 BC.

    The dark-green patina doesn't do the smooth surfaces and detail justice, so I had to capture it a second time to show it off with the light reflecting.
    [​IMG]
    Syracuse, Sicily
    Second Democracy, 466-405 BC
    AE Tetras, Struck circa 425 BC
    Obverse: ΣYΡΑ, head of Arethusa right, wearing a necklace with a pendant, hair loosely gathered at the top of her head, dolphin before and behind.
    Reverse: Octopus with spread tentacles, three pellets around (•••, mark of value).
    References: SNG ANS 376; HGC 2, 1428
    Size: 15mm, 2.72g
    Ex: Artemide Aste Auction 50E (2/29/2020), Lot #101


    Let's see your octopuseseses sess, er... octopi!!
     
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  3. paddyman98

    paddyman98 I'm a professional expert in specializing! Supporter

    Neat ancient!
    In spanish we say Pulpo.. plural would be Pulpos.. much easier :wideyed:
     
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  4. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    Very cool capture! My collection still lacks a good octopus.
     
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  5. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Wow, nice! @Justin Lee ! Nice...

    I recently posted these, but octopi are way cool!

    [​IMG]
    SYRACUSE 2nd Democr 466-405 BCE Æ Tetras 2.7g 15mm c.425 BCE Arethusa dolphins - Octopus 3 pellets SNG ANS 376 Calciati II.21.1


    [​IMG]
    Sicily Syracuse AE Onkia 12-10mm 1.4g 425-415 BCE Arethusa - Octopus BMC 249
     
  6. octavius

    octavius Well-Known Member

    Very neat Justin ; now you gave me the bug to start looking for one!
     
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  7. Clavdivs

    Clavdivs Well-Known Member

    Awesome! Pretty sweet on the shipping too!
     
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  8. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Syracuse AR litra, 5th century BC - While it is a small coin and not in good shape, you can read the spelled out city name on the obverse with a little imagination. More of these seem to abbreviate the legend and use larger letters.
    g20440bb0121.jpg
     
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  9. AncientJoe

    AncientJoe Well-Known Member

    I'm a firm believer that, for art, bigger isn't necessarily better. This litra is one of my most artistic coins and the engraver agreed: it has (probably) Eukleidas' (very small) signature on the ampyx.

    Octopus.jpg
     
  10. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    Holy cow @Justin Lee ! That is a great coin! The difference between the first and second set of pictures is like night and day.
    I don't have an octopus, or any other mollusk for that matter. The closest I can come is a crustacean from Sicily.
    Everyone else who shared, your coins are great too :p
     
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  11. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    This thread and these coins are off the rails! Thanks for the shout out my man. Being patient couldn’t be easy waiting for a coin like that!:artist::snaphappy::wideyed:
    Here are my humble octapushies +friends: 60BAF99D-DE93-4CF5-85DF-38A8AA0B68E7.png 990B465E-A0FE-4737-AD6C-363BC6228882.png
    DCA92405-A845-403A-BEAF-6536029AFF36.png
     
  12. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    Ooo, that is much easier! And more fun!
    Your's is out there somewhere calling your name...
    Thanks! Always love seeing coins from your collection!
    Haha, that's what happened to me a handful of months ago with someone else's post and this one sorta fell into my lap.
    Thanks! Yea, shaving off a few bucks here and there makes things extra worth it.
    I guess I've got enough imagination... I see [Σ]ΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ... That first S is almost cut in half and can make out a bit of the bottom. Thanks for sharing that, Doug!
    Very nice, Joe. Such superb craftsmanship and an artful hand on your coin! Impressive as always!
    Thanks, Furryfrog!!
    Very nice group! You got an aquarium for them all yet? Those octos would probably try to escape though. Thanks for sharing your sealife!
     
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  13. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Wow! While that doesn't make me want to abandon the Roman imperial era, it does make me want to expand my collection to include one of these issues!
     
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  14. rrdenarius

    rrdenarius non omnibus dormio Supporter

    Nice pick-up. A coin to spread postage works for me.
    I bought an octopus coin for a friend at work who had a drawing of one done by her daughter on the wall. I have looked at several since then, but haven't bought another... yet.
    upload_2020-3-31_10-38-56.png
    upload_2020-3-31_10-39-11.png
    minted in Syracuse about 400 BC
    Obv - Head of Arethusa left
    Rev - Octopus
     
  15. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    I'm still looking for one. Very nice indeed.
     
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  16. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

    Showed this one a couple of times:

    P1220427best.JPG
     
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  17. willieboyd2

    willieboyd2 First Class Poster

    [​IMG]
    Syracuse Sicily Bronze Tetras Octopus

    Bronze, 15.4 mm, 3.84 gm, Catalog: SNG Cop 653
    Struck: BC 425-420 Syracuse mint

    Obverse: Head of Arethusa right with dolphins, ΣΥΡΑ to right of head
    Reverse: Octopus
    A tetras was 1/4 of an obol, an obol was 1/6 of a drachm.

    :)
     
  18. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    Very neat coins all
     
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